Can-filling machine.



W. P. HEBRANK.

l CAN FILLING MAGHINE.

APPLIO'ATION FILED NOV. 5, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ff' f 59 ATT EST 2 BY ATTY.

I o. .mCQanszn R' '.75 E l L l 76 v WERRWNTOR.

W. I'. HEBRANK.

GAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 5, 1909.

@19408,3 Patented June 14,1910. ff

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

W. I'. HEBRANK.

GAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 5, 1909.

Patented June 14,1910.

QIAGS.,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. I'. HEBRANK. GAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 11011.15, 1909.

9619408., Patented June 14, 1910.

lEBIIIIETS-SHEET 4.

mventor' W. I'. HEBRANK.

CAN FILLING MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED Nov. 5, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

www LGF: Wm?. @Drank WILLIAM F. HEBRANK, F HIGHLAND, ILLINOIS.

CAN-FILLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

llBatented June 14, 1910.

Application led November 5, 1909. Serial No. 526,380.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. HEBRANK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Highland, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can- Filling Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description', reference being had to the accompanying drawin s, forming part of this specification.

y invention relates to a can filling machine, that is more particularly intended for use in filling cans with condensed milk, although of utility in filling cans with any liquid substance.

The object of the invention is to construct a can filling machine by the use of which sheet metal cans having small filling orifices may be automatically filled, the cans being `automatically delivered to and discharged from the apparatus.

Figure I is an elevation of my can filling machine with the can delivery chute, discharge runway, and discharge conveyer in vertical cross section. Fig. II is in part a top or plan view of the lower portion of the machine, and in part a horizontal section taken beneath the filling devices of the machine. Fig. III is an enlarged view, in part in plan, and in part sections taken at different elevation. Fig. IV is an enlarged vertical section through the reservoir and filling devices. Fig. V is an elevation of the can delivery chute, one of the filling devices, the can gripping means, and the means for cleansing the nipples of the filling devices. Fig. VI is a diagrammatical view, illustrating the manner in which the valves of the can filling devices are automatically controlled to permit fiow of liquid to the cans, and cnt off such flow.

In the accompanying drawings :--1 designates the bed of my machine, through which extends a rotatable vertical shaft 2 that is located centrally with respect to the can fiilling devices supported in the main by said shaft and operable around its axis.

3 is a horizontally arranged spider fixed to the vertical shaft 2, the spider having suspended from its arms hanger rods 4.

5 is a can carrying ring that is supported by the hanger rods 4, and is horizontally positioned beneath the spider 3, the ring being provided at its upper face with pockets 6 and also with apertures 7 extending vertically therethrough at the locations of said pockets, in which certain members to be heremafter more particularly referred to are operable.

8 are stop members mounted on the can carrying ring 5 and the outer faces of which correspond in contour to segments of cans that are to be filled in the use of my apparatus, and which are adapted to seat against said stop members, as seen in Figs. I and IV.

9 designates a platform fixed to the vertical shaft 2 at its upper end and rotatable with this shaft, the platform being provided at its outer edge with a plurality of arms 10 v adapted to support a member to be hereinaftermore particularly alluded to.

12 designates a reservoir supported by the platform 9 and located centrally thereon, the reservoir being held in a fixed position through the medium of a rib l1 extending upwardly from the platform and which is engaged by a flange 13 that extends downwardly from the outer edge of the reservoir, (see Fig. IV). Liquid that is to be delivered to cans to fill them in the use' of my machine is emptied into the reservoir 12 from a delivery pipe 14 that leads to a point above the reservoir and is controlled by a valve 15 governed by a float 16 present in the reservoir. The float is connected to the valve by a valve rod 17, and the valve is operable in a cage 18. In the Wall of the reservoir 12 is a series of outlets 12', and at the location of these outlets are troughs 19, (see Figs. III and IV), extending outwardly from the reservoir and supported by the platform 9.

20 is an auxiliary reservoir surrounding the main reservoir l2 and which is concentric withsaid main reservoir, the auxiliary reservoir being arranged in communication with the main reservoir through means of the troughs 19, in order that the liquid that is delivered into the main reservoir may flow therefrom into the auxiliary reservoir. The auxiliary reservoir is supported by arms l0 of the platform 9, (see Fig. IV).

`21 designates a plurality of vertically arranged receivers that extend downwardly from the auxiliary reservoir 20 and also upwardly into the auxiliary reservoir, each receiver being provided above the bottom of said reservoir with an inlet orifice 22 providing for passage of liquid from the auxiliary reservoir into the receiver at a pomt beneath the upper end of said receiver. The several receivers 21 are located above the can carrying1 ring 5 and the vparts so disosed that t e centers of the receivers will e directly above the'lcenters of the cans when the cans are seated on the ring to be filled. The lower end of each receiver is supplied with a closure 23, that contains a central escalpe duct 24 extending vertically therethroug and in the bottom of each closure is a nipple 25. It should be here noted that the nipple 25 associated with the escape duct leading from leach receiver is of small diameter, and is adapted to fit loosely into a small opening A in the top of the cans A to be filled in the use of the apparatus, (see F 1g. IV), the small openings mentioned belng provided in the cans in order that the cans may be closed more readily and less expensively than they can where larger inlet orlices therein are provided. The passage of liquid from the receivers 21 through the escape ducts 24 is controlled by valves 26 vextending horizontall through the closures rovided with ducts 27 adapted to be move into and out of registration with the escape duct 24. The stem 28 of each valve 26 is supplied with a head 29 carrying a pair of arms 30 and 31 that are adapted to be engaged by members to be hereinafter particularly set forth, through the medium of which the Valves are actuated to permit ilow of liquid therethrough and discontinue such flow.-

.32 designates plungers operable in the recelvers 2l and by whlch the liquid delivered to said receivers from the auxiliary reservoir 2O is forced therefrom through their escape ducts and the valve 26 into the cans to be filled. These plungers are preferably heav cylindrical bodies that are snugly itte in the receivers and are adapted to move therein', with only sufficient clearance between the plun ers and the receivers to permit freedom o movement of said plungers. The plungers have upwardly extendmg supporting rods that are connected at.

their upper ends to arms 34 projecting over the plungers, (see Figs. I and IV), and

which are carried by vertically disposed sliding bars 35 that are operable in guideways in the vertical ide posts 36 supported b the rotatable 37 .are track wheels carried by the slide bars 35. 38 is a cam track encircling the entire number of posts 36 and slide bars 35 operable. therein, and which is supported by standards 39 which extend upwardly from I the base 1. The cam track 38 is highest at the point 40, (see Fig. I), which is approximately directly above the oint at which the cans to be filled are intr uced into my apparatus preparatory to filling them, and 1t 1s inclined downwardly from this point in the direction in .which the cans are carried Yatform 9," (see F1gs. I, II

-the receivers 21, while the track wheels 37 are rolling; downwardly on the cam trackv from the gh point 40, in order that said plungers may force the contents from the receivers into the cans. It will be seen on referring to Fig. I that the cam track, after reaching a low point indicated at 41, is again inclined u wardly to the point 40. It will, therefore, e apparent that the plungers 32 are permitted to descend in the receivers while the track wheels 37 are moving from the point 40 to the point 41, and the said plungers are again elevated, while said track wheels are moving from the point 41 to the point 40.

42 designates a circular cam rail located beneath the can carrying ring 5, and which is rovided with a depression opposite the point of delivery of the cans to the can carryng ring and discharge of the cans therefrom.

43 are the stems of jacks loosely fitted in the apertures 7 in the can carrying ring 5, and at the upper ends of which are' heads 44 adapted to enter into the pockets 6 in the can y carrying ring when the jacks are in lowered positions in order that the cans may be readily slid into their proper places on the ring. The can lifting jacks also comprise traveler members adapted to ride upon the cam rail 42, the said travelers being preferably of the construction illustrated in the. drawings, (see Figs. I and IV), in which they consist of rounded knobs 45 surinounted by stems 46 that are loosely itted in the stems 43, and are in turn surmounted by cushion springs 47. The stems 46 are retained in the stems 43 by screws 48 operable in annular grooves in the traveler stems. As the can carrying ring rotates, each can lifting jack occupies for a period of time a lowered position, while traversing the depressed portion of the cam rail 42- this period being that at which cans are being delivered t0 and removed from the can carrying ring. Then as each jack is moved with the ring, its traveler rides upwardly onto the elevated portion of the cam ra1l, and the can that has been placed thereon is elevated tothe position in which a can is shown in Fi' IV, and whereby the nipple 25-is cause to enter into the lling' orifice in the top of the can. By providin the jacks with the spring controlled trave ers, I make it possible for them to be elevated to lift the cans Without any sudden shock or jar inci' dent to the en agement between the jacks and the cam rai by which they are elevated to remain in an elevated position, until they have become filled and returned to the starting point previous to being moved olf of the somos can carrying ring 5. To provide for the cans being properly centered beneath the receivers 21, in order that the nip les 25 may enter into the cans through their inlet orifices, l furnish each receiver with centering fin ers 21a that are located `at the lower en s of the receivers and which are provided at their lower ends with inclined inner faces 21", (see Fig. l), that are adapted to ride against the peripheries of the tops of the cans when said cans are elevated by lifting jacks beneath them. lBy referring to Fi s. I and V it will be seen that these fingers ao lhave shoulders adjacent their upper ends,

the function of these shoulders being to space the cans away from the lower end of the receivers and thus provide for the escape of air from the cans while they are being filled.

I will next proceed with the description of the trip device by which the valves 26 are actuated to permit flow of liquid therethrough from the receivers 21 and to the cans tobe filled, and also the trip device for actuating said valves to close them after the cans have been filled. The rst mentioned of these devices is located in proximity to the lpoint at which the cans are delivered to the can carrying ring 5, and comprises thev following parts: 49 is a trip bar arranged in an upright position adjacent to the inner edge of the can carrying ring, and which is providedgat its lower end with a counterbalance weight 50 offset laterally from the body of the bar. rlhe trip bar 1s pivotally attached at 51 to a bracket 52, and it is provided at its upper endv with a notch 53 adapted to receive the arms 30 carried by the heads of the valve stems 28. 54 isa cam extending laterally from the trip bar 49, near its' upper end, and which is normally maintained in a position above the can carrying ring 5, due to the action of the counterbalance weight '50, which is located,

at the lower end of the trip bar.. It will be obvious that the counterbalance weight 50 has a tendency to cause the upper end of the trip bar 49 to be moved outwardly so that the cam 54is in the path of travel of the cans, while they are moving in a circular ath upon the cancarrying rin and that i there is no can carried to said cam, the upperend of the trip bar will remain out of the path of -travel of the arms 30 inorder that the valves'26 will not be moved to open a discharge-way therethrough. Whenever, however, cans are brought into enagement with the lcam 54, said cam is moved so that the notch 53 at the upper end of the trip bar is in the path of travel of the arm 30 associated with the valve 26 above the cam, as seen in Fig. IV, and the valve is rotated due to such engagement to establish the dischargefway therethrough to the can which remains established until the can has l been filled. The actuation of the arm .30 by the trip bar 49 and the position of this arm before its actuation by said bar and immediately after such actuation is illustrated diagrammatically at the right hand in Fig. Vl. The device fior closing the valves comprises the post 55, (see Figs. l, lll, and VI), which is provided at its upper endl with' an arm 56. The arm of this post is adapted t'o be engagedl by the arms 31 associated with the stems of the valves 26 in common with the arms 30, whereby said arms 31 are depressed as they strike against the arm 56,

charge of liquid therethrough to the cans.

There is an interval between the discharge of the filled cans from the can carrying rin and the lacing of empty cans thereon, an ll have ound 1t desirable to utilize means whereby the nipples 25 are cleansed, in order that they may not become clogged, which means is brought into service in the interval mentioned. rlhis means, (most clearly shown in Fig. V, but 4appearing also in Figs. l and if), comprises the following parts: 57 is a post mounted adjacent to the path of travel of the receivers 21, and 58 is a lift lever pivoted at 59 to said post, the lever being provided with an arm 60 extending upwardly from the pivot 59 and inwardly toward the path of travel of parts 61 associated with the receivers A21. The parts 61 are preferably collars surrounding the receivers beneath the auxiliary reservoir 20. 62 is a spring connecting the lift lever 58 to the post 57 beneath the pivot point 59 and which normally exerts an influence upon said lift lever that tends to draw the ylower end of the lever outwardly and hold the arm 60 inwardly toward the receivers 21, or between said receivers during their circular course of movement. 63 is a suction pipe supported by the lift lever 58 and in the mouth of which is a porous member 64, preferably a sponge. As each receiver 21 is moved to the device just described 'in the interval from the discharge of the filled cans from the carrying ring 5 and the placing of em ty cans upon said ring,= said receiver strikes a ainst the arm 60 of the lift lever 57 and 51e lower end of said lift lever is moved inwardly and upwardly, so that the porous member 64 is carried to the nipple 25 of the receiver, and any substance present upon said nipple and-therein is drawn by suction through the member 64 and into the pipe 63. Y

65 is a chute through which the empty cans are delivered singly to the can carrying ring 5, this chute, as shown in Figs. H and V, being a downwardly curved one whereby the cans are caused to automatically descend to the can carrying ring and be -pressed thereonto without the necessity of andling them. l

and the valves are closed to shut off the dislso 66 designates a runway through which the cans are conducted from the can carrying ring of the apparatus after they have been filled. 67 is a' conveyerfoperable'in said runway, and which is provided with flights 68 that are adapted in their course of'movement .to travel over the can carrying ring and d1scharge the filled cans therefrom into the, runway 66, and also to conduct these 1 ing mechanism of my cans through said runway. The conveyer 67 operates upon an idler 69'and upon a drive wheel 70.

The following is a description of the drivmachine: 71 designates a main drive s aft provided with a belt wheel 72. This drive shaft carries a worm 73 that meshes with the worm wheel 74 fixed to the vertical shaft 2, and by which said vertical shaft is rotated. The

drive shaft has fixed to it a s rocket wheel 75 on which an endless chain 7b is operable.' This chain also operates upon ra sprocket wheel 77 that'is fixed to a shaft 78. The shaft 78 also has fixed to it a bevel wheel 79 that is in mesh with a bevel pinion 80 fixedv to the shaft 81 to which the conveyer drive' wheel 70 is'secured.

1'. In a can filling machine, a rotatable main reservoir, a rotatable auxiliary reservoir connected thereto, cylinders having their upper portions located in the auxiliary reservo1r, each of said cylinders having an inlet o ening below its up er end, plungers in sai cylinders, means or elevatm .each

vof- 'said plungers to a oint above sai inlet von each of said bars, a cam track'arranged below said rollers for lifting theplungers Ato a point above said. inlet openmg and allowing them to fall by gravity a discharge nip le 'secured tothe lower en of each of sal p cylinders,

. mounted belownipples.

and a can carrier'rotatably i 3. In a" can filling machine, aA rotatable .main reservoir, a rotatable auxiliary reservoir connected thereto, cylinders having theirupper portions located inthe auxiliary 60 reservo1r, each of said cylinders having an inlet opening below its upper end,- plungers f in said cylinders, la cam for elevatm each of said plungers to a point above sai inlet opening and then allowing it`to fall by 65 gravity, a discharge nipple secured to' thev lower end of each of said cylinders, a can carrier rotatably mounted below said discharge nip les, mclined centering lingers on said cylindbrs, into engagement with the inclined faces on said fingers to provide for the nipples entering the cans, each of said centering lingers being provided with a shoulder for spacing the can away from' thebottom'of said cyl- 75 inders. Y v v 4. In a can filling machine, a movably supported. receiver provided wlth a nipple`,.

means for movement to ls aid nipple for the removal of deposits therefrom, and means so colperable with'said receiver for supporting sai deposit removing means and moving 1t toand from said nipple. v 5. In a can y'filling machine, a receiver provided with a nipple, a suctlon pipe' f0r185 movement to said nipple for the removal of deposits therefrom, and means cotperable with said receiver whereby said suctlon p1pe is moved toward and away from said nipple.

.6. In a can filling machine, a mova supported receiver provided with a nipple, a suction pipe, an absorbent body in an end of said suction pipe adapted to be moved, to said nipple for the removal of deposits thererom,and means coperable with said 95 receiver whereby said suction pipe is moved toward and awa from said nipple.

7. In a can ling machine, a movably` supported receiver rovided with .a nipple a suction pipe, an a. sorbent bodyv in an en of said suction pipe adapted to be moved to said nipple for the removal of deposits therefrom, and a spring controlled lever '4 supporting said suction dpipe and arranged for engagement by sai the vsuction pipe is moved toward the receiver to carry said, absorbent body to said nipple.

WILLIAM F. HEBRANK. In the presence of 'IHm ITENEB,v AD. MEYER l .d y `I/ means for moving the cans 70 receiver whereby 

